Bay Area tree permits, city by city, and the arborist reports cities ask for.
Most Bay Area cities require a permit to remove a protected tree, and the size that triggers it differs city by city. Urban Forestry Guide publishes the verified rule for 56 Bay Area jurisdictions: protected species, size threshold with unit and measurement height, fee, penalty, and whether an arborist report is required. Each rule is checked against the city's municipal code by Michael Schuck, ISA Certified Arborist WE-15750A. Foster City, Piedmont and San Rafael have no private-tree permit at all.
What do you need to know?
Do I need a permit?
Pick the city, describe the tree, get the rule with the code section.
What is the fine?
Each city's penalty rule as written, and what to do if the tree is already gone.
The city wants an arborist report
21 cities always require one. We write them to the city's checklist.
My neighbor's tree
Trimming rights, damage, boundary trees and what California law actually awards.
Is this quote fair?
Bay Area price ranges by job, and an independent second opinion when the number is big.
Fire inspection coming
Defensible space zones, what the inspector looks for, and which trees can stay.
Consulting, not tree work
Michael Schuck is an ISA Certified Arborist WE-15750A with 13 years in Bay Area arboriculture. The practice writes arborist reports, risk assessments, tree protection plans, second opinions and appraisals, and files tree permits end to end ($750 flat). This practice does not sell or refer tree work and takes no referral fees. That is why cities, insurers and both sides of a dispute accept the reports.
Guides
Neighbor Tree Disputes
Trimming rights, damage, boundary trees and what California courts actually award.
Defensible Space
The zones, what the inspector looks for, and which trees can stay.
Tree Selection
Which species survive Bay Area clay, drought and fog, and which to keep away from foundations.
Pruning
How much to take, when, and the cuts that cost you the tree.
Tree Emergencies
Who to call, what to photograph, and which cities let you remove first.
Tree Protection Plans
What cities require when construction comes near a protected tree.